Table 1.
Age-standardized characteristics of Nurses’ Health Study (1994) and Nurses’ Health Study II (1995) participants at baseline, overall and by aircraft noise exposure.
| NHS |
NHS II |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overalla,b | DNL <55 dB (A) a,b | DNL ≥55 dB (A) a | Overalla,b | DNL <55 dB (A) a,b | DNL ≥55 dB (A) a | |
| N | 63,245 | 62,668 | 577 | 98,938 | 97,824 | 1,114 |
| Age, yrs c | 59.1 ± 7.1 | 59.1 ± 7.1 | 59.2 ± 6.9 | 40.3 ± 4.8 | 40.3 ± 4.7 | 40.3 ± 4.9 |
| DNL, dB(A) | 49.4 ± 4.1 | 48.3 ± 2.7 | 57.7 ± 2.8 | 49.6 ± 4.3 | 48.3 ± 2.7 | 57.8 ± 3.0 |
| White, % | 94.6 | 94.7 | 88.2 | 93.3 | 93.5 | 82.2 |
| Post-Menopausal, % | 87.8 | 87.8 | 86.8 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 5.4 |
| Partner’ s Education Attainment, % | ||||||
| Less than high school | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 |
| High school | 37.9 | 37.8 | 42.7 | 17.1 | 17.1 | 16.3 |
| More than high school | 56.9 | 57.0 | 51.9 | 82.2 | 82.2 | 83.5 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 25.5 ± 4.6 | 25.5 ± 4.6 | 25.6 ± 4.7 | 25.3 ± 5.4 | 25.3 ± 5.4 | 25.6 ± 5.6 |
| Family History of Hypertension, % | 36.1 | 36.1 | 36.1 | 49.3 | 49.2 | 51.6 |
| Statin Use, % d | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| Aspirin Use, % | ||||||
| < 1 day/mo | 56.9 | 56.9 | 56.3 | 77.3 | 77.3 | 77.7 |
| 1 day/wk | 12.6 | 12.6 | 15.1 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 13.5 |
| 2–3 days/wk | 9.2 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
| 4–5 days/wk | 6.9 | 7.0 | 5.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| >5 days/wk | 14.4 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.3 |
| Ibuprofen Use, % | ||||||
| None | 81.2 | 81.2 | 83.2 | 35.3 | 35.3 | 41.0 |
| 1 day/wk | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 39.6 | 39.7 | 36.5 |
| 2–3 days/wk | 4.6 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 16.9 | 16.9 | 14.8 |
| 4–5 days/wk | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.2 |
| >5 days/wk | 6.6 | 6.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 3.4 |
| Acetaminophen Use, % | ||||||
| None | 86.6 | 86.6 | 85.7 | 45.7 | 45.6 | 47.5 |
| 1 day/wk | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 40.4 | 40.4 | 41.9 |
| 2–3 days/wk | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 8.2 |
| 4–5 days/wk | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| >5 days/wk | 3.3 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.9 |
| Current Smoker, % | 15.2 | 15.2 | 16.0 | 11.3 | 11.2 | 13.1 |
| Alcohol Consumption, g/day | 5.1 ± 8.8 | 5.1 ± 8.8 | 4.2 ± 6.9 | 3.5 ± 6.6 | 3.5 ± 6.6 | 3.6 ± 6.4 |
| DASH Score | 23.9 ± 4.6 | 23.9 ± 4.6 | 24.1 ± 4.7 | 23.7 ± 4.9 | 23.7 ± 4.9 | 23.3 ± 4.9 |
| Physical Activity, MET-hr/wk | 20.9 ± 26.0 | 20.9 ± 26.1 | 19.1 ± 22.3 | 18.7 ± 23.0 | 18.7 ± 23.0 | 19.8 ± 25.6 |
| Median Income, per 1,000 USD | 83.1 ± 35.0 | 83.1 ± 35.1 | 81.3 ± 32.0 | 80.4 ± 32.0 | 80.3 ± 32.0 | 83.1 ± 32.0 |
| Median Home Value, per 10,000 USD | 30.3 ± 22.0 | 30.2 ± 22.0 | 37.4 ± 21.6 | 26.7 ± 20.7 | 26.6 ± 20.7 | 37.0 ± 22.4 |
| PM2.5-10, μg/m3 | 9.1 ± 4.0 | 9.1 ± 4.0 | 10.8 ± 3.7 | 9.7 ± 4.1 | 9.7 ± 4.1 | 10.6 ± 3.5 |
| PM2.5, μg/m3 | 14.1 ± 3.1 | 14.0 ± 3.1 | 15.5 ± 2.7 | 14.0 ± 3.0 | 14.0 ± 3.0 | 14.9 ± 2.6 |
| Region of Residence, % | ||||||
| Northeast | 52.5 | 52.4 | 62.0 | 33.9 | 33.7 | 50.8 |
| Midwest | 17.3 | 17.4 | 8.8 | 32.7 | 32.9 | 15.7 |
| South | 16.5 | 16.6 | 15.1 | 18.3 | 18.3 | 19.1 |
| West | 13.6 | 13.6 | 14.2 | 15.1 | 15.2 | 14.3 |
Abbreviations: BMI, Body Mass Index; dB(A), A-Weighted Decibels; DNL, Day-Night average sound Level; DASH, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension; g/day, grams per day; HR, Hazard Ratio; kg/m2, kilograms per square meter; μg/m3, micrograms per cubic meter; NHS, Nurses’ Health Study; NHS II, Nurses’ Health Study II; MET-hr/wk, metabolic equivalent hour per week; mo, month; PM, particulate matter; USD, United States Dollar; wk, week; yrs, years.
Values are means ± standard deviations (SD) for continuous variables; percentages for categorical variables and are standardized to the age distribution of the study population.
Means (SD) were obtained for noise measurements modeled (above 45 dB (A)).
Value is not age adjusted.
In NHS II, statin use was not obtained at baseline (1995); however, statin use was obtained during follow-up (starting in 1999).